SECURITY: Govâ€™t is committed to peace building -Nunoo-Mensah

Nunoo Mensah (rtd), Chief Security Advisor to the President

The government has renewed its commitment to support and encourage all initiatives that promote unity, peace and economic empowerment in the country. To this end, the government will support all initiates aimed at improving the living standards of all Muslims and the country as a whole.

This pledge was made by the Chief Security Advisor to the President, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah (rtd), when he represented the President, John Evans Atta Mills, at a programme organised by the Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) to launch the National Zakat House at the British Council last Saturday.

Brigadier Nunoo Mensah described the occasion as “historic,” and added that “the coming together of all the Muslim sects in Ghana for the purpose of establishing this National Zakat House symbolises the unity among Muslims in Ghana, and the attendant peace we enjoy.”

He said the idea behind the formation of the National Zakat House was in line with government’s policy to reduce poverty and improve education and reiterated government’s full support.

While commending the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu for his support towards the establishment of the National Zakat House, the security capo advised the management of the National Zakat House not to politicise its activities.

The programme, which was chaired by the former Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Lepowura Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, was attended by highly powerful Islamic scholars in the country.

According to the policy document of the National Zakat House, Ghana, the National Zakat House is the Zakat authority established by the Muslim Ummah (community) to enhance Muslims awareness in the issues of Zakat, and to consolidate its effect and significant role in the domain of development for both individuals and the whole community.

Giving a background towards the establishment of the National Zakat House, the President of (COMOG), Major Mohammed Eassah (rtd.), briefly explained that Zakat was an obligation on Muslims to give a specific amount of their wealth, with certain conditions and requirements, to the needy.

He added that the concept of Zakat exemplifies Islam’s strong concern and position on social justice and equitable redistribution of resources for the benefit of the poor and the less-privileged.

He promised that the management of the Zakat Fund was going to be guided by strict adherence to true probity, accountability, transparency and sound financial management, which he believed, are the basic ingredients for ensuring a massive reduction of poverty, gender empowerment, and promotion of education among other things in Islamic communities.

Major Essah disclosed that the organisers of the National Zakat House had learnt a great lesson from the management of Hajj in Ghana, and vowed never to allow the avoidable problems of the Hajj management in Ghana to bedevil the newly-launched National Zakat House.

In view of this objective, the ex- military officer advised all politicians not to politicise the activities of the National Zakat House.

On her part, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, added her voice in commending the organisers of the programme, and wished that much of the funds generated from the project would be channeled towards improving the living standards of the ‘kayayei’ (head porters), and poor people in society who have become economic slaves through no fault of theirs, so as to bridge the gender gap in the Muslim community.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the fund, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Awal Mohammed, a former Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group, thanked the organisers for the confidence reposed in them, and promised to work diligently to improve the lot of Muslims in Ghana.

He said his administration would focus on issues of improving the living standards of women and children, called for the support of all Muslims in the country.